Mechanical riding toy



y 1959 G. v. GLUMER 2,885,213

MECHANICAL RIDING TOY Filed Mrch 20, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet. 1

5/? INVENTOR.

May 5. 1959 G. v. GLUMER MECHANICAL RIDING TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 20, 1958 INVENTOR. 605mm K 655M152? yrrawwzz'rs 4' Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 20, 1958 May 5, 1959 G. v. GLUMER MECHANICAL RIDING TOY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 20, 1958 km 3 W m\\ United States Patent MECHANICAL RIDING TOY Gustavo Vazquez Glumer, Mexico City, Mexico Application March 20, 1958, Serial No. 722,798

4 Claims. (Cl. 280--1.183)

The present invention relates to mechanical riding toys, and particularly to a simulated horse having legs moved by the shifting weight of the rider.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a mechanical riding toy having movable wheeled legs in which the wheels are steerable and have brakes to prevent movement in a reverse direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical riding toy of the class described above wherein the front and rear legs are operated simultaneously in opposite directions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanical riding toy of the class described above having a steering mechanism controllable by reins extending from a simulated horse head.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a simulated horse type mechanical riding toy wherein the toy driving mechanism is locked during the mounting of the toy by the rider.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanical riding toy of the class described above which is inexpensive to manufacture, simple to operate, and which will be long lasting in rough service.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the'attached drawings, in which:

I Figure l is a side elevation of the invention with the body and frame of the horse shown in broken lines.

: Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the operatingmechanism of the horse illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a semi-diagrammatic top plan view of the steering linkage shown in straight line position.

v Figure 4 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing the wheels steered for a right turn.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 3 showing the braking position of the wheels when both reins are pulled.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical crosssection taken along the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

' Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lock mechanism.

- Figure 8 is an enlarged side elevation of one'of the wheels showing the braking structure.

' Figure 9 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 9--'9 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 10 is a perspective view similar to Figure 2, illustrating a modified form of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral 20 indicates generally a mechanical riding toy constructed in accordance with the invention.

' The toy 20 comprises a hollow horse simulating body 21, shown in dotted lines in Figure 1, and having a head 22, a saddle 23, depending front legs 24 and depending rear legs 25. The body 21 has a rigid frame 26 mounted therein to. support the. operating mechanism thereof.

The front legs 24 are mounted respectively on vertical tubular frame members 27, 28 which are arranged in parallel relation and secured together adjacent the upper ends thereof by a transverse bar 29 rigidly secured to the frame members 27, 28 at its opposite ends, and a second transverse bar 30 arranged parallel to the bar 29 with its opposite ends secured respectively to cars 31, 32 secured to the upper ends of the frame member 27, 28 and extending forwardly therefrom.

The bar 30 is journalled in the frame 26 to provide the frame members 27, 28 with a swinging movement about a transverse horizontal pivot.

A shaft 33 is telescopically mounted in the frame mem-' 'ber 27 projecting above and below the upper and lower ends thereof. A fork 34 is rigidly secured to the lower end of the shaft 33 and has a ground engaging wheel 35 journalled therein on an axle 36.

The fork 34 is provided at its lower rear extremity on one side with an integral downwardly and rearwardly sloping channel way 37 in which is supported a steel ball 38 for engagement with the inner surface of the rim 39 of the wheel 35.

As can be best seen in Figures 8 and 9, the wheel 35 on rotating in a counter clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 8, will cause the ball 38 to rise in the trackway 37 and the wheel 35 can freely rotate. When the wheel 35 is rotated in a reverse direction, the ball 38 is jammed between the rim 39 and the trackway 37 locking the wheel 35 against further clockwise rotation. The effect of the ball 38 and trackway 37 is to produce a wheel 35 capable of rotating in a counterclockwise direction only.

The upper end of the shaft 33 is provided with a forwardly extending horizontal arm 40 fixed to the shaft 33 so as to rotate therewith. A coil spring 41 encompasses the shaft 33 and engages the arm 40 to normally 'bias the arm 40 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3.

A shaft 42 is journalled in the frame member 28 and is identical to the shaft 33. The shaft 42 has a fork 34 and wheel 35 fixed to its lower end in the same manner as the fork 34 and wheel 35 are fixed to the shaft 33.

An arm 43 is fixedly secured to the upper end of the shaft 42in horizontal forwardly extending relation parallel to the arm 40, and a spring 44 encompasses the upper end of the shaft 42 and engages against the arm 43 to normally bias the arm 43 in a clockwise direction,- as viewed in Figure 3. a

A tie rod 45 extends horizontally parallel to the bar 30 and has its opposite ends connected by pivots 46, 47 respectively, to the forward ends of the arms 40, 43 connecting the arms 40, 43 together for simultaneous rotary movement. The tie rod 45 has a depending stud 48 fixed thereto intermediate the opposite ends thereof. A-vertical shaft 49 is fixed to the frame 26 and has a transversely extending steering bar 50 journalled thereon. A spring 51 is fixed to the shaft 49 with its opposite ends engaging the steering bar 50 normally biasing the bar 50 into a position perpendicular to the longitudinal center line of the toy 20. The opposite ends of the bar 50 are provided with integral cars 52, 53 extending upwardly therefrom.

A yoke 54 extends rearwardly from the steering bar 50 and is integrally formed therewith. The yoke 54 engages on opposite sides of the stud 48 and has the rear end portions thereof downwardly curved at 55.

The rear legs 25 of the toy 20 are mounted on verti cally extending tubular frame members 56, 57 which are secured together by a transverse cross bar 58 extending horizontally therebetween adjacent to but spaced from the upper ends thereof. A second cross bar 59 is arranged parallel to the cross 'bar 58'and extends between ears 60,

. 61 secured integrallyto. ,the upper .ends of ,the frame.

state identiealto the mint s4 and wheesssases The cars, 61 extend rearwardly flolnthelfi'amemembers 96,31 in parallel relation The transverse. bar 59 is journalled in the frame .26 parallel :bar 30m support theframe memberstsfi, swinging movementahoiita horizontal pivot. is jourhalled in the frame 56, and is. to ywltha fork attired to its lowerend; sup

" 1 wheel 35.6 The M34 and whee-139mm" An armGS is to thedpperettd st the shaft" extends forwardly therefrom.

Ashsnutt in the framemember s1 and has a forkujflxedto its lower a wheel 35 of when to the 34 and wheel as tired to theshattfli An armi iisfiredtothe upper endof l5 shaft and. extends forwardly therefrom in horizontal IA hired to thel frame: 2s invertically-exhendall and hitsa pair of hell crank levers,'igenefaliy indicates its? and as, journalled thereon for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane. The bell; crank leverhas arm 69am! a longitudinalatm 70 into gether.

A new; flange t 11 is integrally formed. an the toward sensor the arm 69 and provided with. a horizon- 110100 A depending eat 73 is integrallyitortnedlon ofthe arm 70, albeit teraak lever 68 a 1i and;

i t f ytex ndingarmls integrallvtorthedtheret :fiahge 76 is formed on the forward Mmmttm arm :14 ms provided with! 17,.aimilartotheslot7linthefldhgefll the endof TSistttWid with 78 and a spring Wired shaftiis with a rearwardly extending 91 to maintain the cam bars 91,95 in spaeedapart V t 4 maintained for swinging movement in a vertical plane thereby.

A stirrup support lever 99is iournalled on the forward end 100 of the cam bar for swinging movement in a vertical plane, and the cam bar 95 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed integral forwardly extending stop members 101, lolarranged to engage beneath the opposite lower edges of support 99. The stop member 102ispositioned substantially below the stop member 101, for reasons to be assigned. A spring 103 is fixed to the forward end of the camber 95 and has one. end thereof engaging the. stirrup support 99 to normally bias the support 99 into engagement with the stop 101.

The stirrup support 99 has an integral ear 104 formed on one end thereof, and a second integral ear 105 formed on the oppositeend thereof. A right side stirrup strap 10.6 is suspended from the ear 104 by means of a buckle 107, and a left. side stirrup strapl08 is suspended [mm the ear 105 by a buckle 109.

A book 1101 is formed integrally with the center! of the stirrupsupport 99 extending upwardly therett'omand opening toward the car 105. A book 111 is may secured to the frame 26 and positioned to cooperatively engage with the hook with the stirrup support 99 stirrup .112 secured tothe lower. end thereof.

A pair of spaced apart parallel brackets 113.1141 secured to the camber 95 and provided a shaft 122 at the forward ends. of the arms 119,120. The roller 121 engages the upper surfaeeof thecamhar tron.

A coil spriugtm has its forward endseemedto. transverse bar. and itsrear end secured to the 26 to normally bias theframe members 27, 28 in upright position. .The spring. 123 is provided with: or more turnbuekles 124. by means of which the ofthe spring 123 can be oontrolled.

The head 22 of the horseZl is of spaced. apart parallel separately movable bell bridlebit ends 125 havingeonventional reins 12 i to the lower ends. thereof and a pair of iii? The flerible wires 121, 12s emits through 129, respectively mounted on the u-shapedggnide member 88, as seen in Figure 2. The flexible win atits rear endia hooked to the outer end ofthextranle verse arm 69 of the bell cnnkl'hand .the flenible wire mishookedtothe outerendotthe transversem'n ll ofthebellorank.

In th use and operation. of the invention, the to I ismounted by the rider stepping :into the stirrup 112. which causes the support 99 to pivot with me hook 110 engaging the hook 111 to lock the stirrup lever 99 against further downward movement.

After the riderhas mounted the toy been: both feet in the stirmps 112 sothat isequalig di ided between the strapsl, 10 land thestirrup support bar 99teturastoa horizontal position Thesider thenrisesin the: stirrups 112 toincrease the: weight.

pended by -stimtp support 991M the cans bar-th pressed: satito. t

frame members 56, 57 rearwardly and to press downwardly by means of the rollers 117, 121 against the cam bar 91 to thus cause the frame members 27, 28 to be swung forwardly against the tension of the spring 123. As the frame members 56, 57 are swung rearwardly, the wheels 35 thereon are locked against rearward movement at) that the horse 20 is moved forwardly.

The rider then sits in the saddle 23 removing his weight from the stirrups 112 to permit the spring 123 to pull the frame members 27, 28 to their upright position which will, through engagement of the cam bar 91 with the rollers 121, 117, move the cam bar 95 to bring the frame members 56, 57 to their upright position. The wheels 35 supporting the frame members 27, 28 can not move rearwardly, so the wheels 35 supporting the frame members 56, 57 are drawn forward as the frame members 27, 28, 56, 57 return to their upright positions.

A continuation of the alternate movements of the rider placing his weight first in the stirrups 112 then in the saddle 23 will cause the legs 24, 25 to alternately spread apart and return to upright position with the oneway' action of the wheels 35 causing the toy 20 to move forwardly.-

The toy 20 is steered by means of the reins 126 operating through the bit ends 125. The bell crank levers 67, 68 are caused to swing on the shaft 66 by the movement of the flexible wires 127, 128 when moved by the reins 126.

The car 73 on the bell crank lever 67 is coupled to the arm 63 by means of a connecting link 131, and the ear 78 on the bell crank lever 68 is connected to the arm 65 by a link 132. Swinging movement of the bell crank lever 67 caused by the movement of the wire 127, swings the arm 63 inwardly while the arm 65 is swung outwardly by the link 132 and swinging movement of the bell crank lev r 68.

The rods 82, 85 connecting the flanges 71, 76 respectively with the ears 52, 53 of the steering bar 50 causes the steering bar 50 to swing on the shaft 49, moving the arm 40 outwardly and the arm 43 inwardly so that the wheels 35 supporting the frame members 27, 28 are steered oppositely of the wheels 35 supporting the frame members 56, 57.

If the reins 126 are pulled simultaneously rearwardly to pull simultaneously forwardly on the flexible wires 127, 128, the bell crank levers 67, 68 will be swung oppositely on the shaft 66 against the tension of the spring 81, and the arms 63, 65 will be swung inwardly simultaneously, as illustrated in Figure 5, so that the wheels 35 supporting the frame members 56, 57 will be both aimed toward the center, thus creating a braking action to retard the forward motion of the toy 20.

The swinging movement of the bell cranks 67, 68 under the direct pull on both of the flexible wires 127, 128, swings the flanges 71, 76 away from the heads 83, 86 on the rods 82, 85 so that the steering bar 50 remains in its transverse position where it is maintained by the spring 51.

Referring now to Figure 10, a modified form: of the invention is illustrated wherein tubular frame members 27a, 28a are arranged in spaced parallel relation to form the front leg frames of a toy 20a. The frame members 27a, 28a are connected together by a transverse bar 29a identical to the bar 29, and a second transverse bar 30a parallel thereto and identical to the transverse bar 30.

Ears 31a, 32a are formed integrally on the upper ends respectively of the frame members 27a, 28a and the trans verse bar 30a has it sopposite ends fixedly secured thereto. A fork 34 identical to the fork 34 of the preferred form of the invention is fixedly secured to the lower end of each of the frame members 27a, 28a with a wheel 35 journalled therein.

A pair of frame members 56a, 57a are arranged in spaced parallel relation to form the rear legs of the toy 20a and are supported at their upper ends by transverse bars 58a, 59a identical to the transverse bars 58, 59 of the preferred form of tlie'invention. I

A shaft 62a is journalled in the frame member 5612' frame member 57a and has a fork 34 fixedly secured to the lower end thereof carrying a wheel 35 therein. A bell crank lever 65a is fixedly secured to the upper end of the shaft 64a, for reasons to be assigned.

A cam bar 91a identical to the cam bar 91 is fixedly secured to the transverse bars 29a, 30a in the same manner as the cam bar 91 is fixedly secured to the transverse bars 29, 30. A cam bar a identical to the cam bar 95 is fixedly secured to the transverse bars 58a, 59a in the same manner as the cam bar 95 is fixedly secured to the transverse bars 58, 59. A coil spring 123a extends between the transverse bar.29a and the transverse bar 58a to normally bias the frame members 27a, 28a and the frame members 56a, 57a into an upright position. The cam bars 91a, 95a are operatively associated in exactly the same manner as'the cam bars 91, 95in the preferred form of the'inve'ntion and operate in the same manner.

A connector rod 131a is secured to the forwardly extending portion of the bell crank lever 63a and extends transversely therefrom. A connector tube 132a is telescopically engaged over the connector rod 131a and has its opposite end connected to the forward extending portion of the bell crank lever 65a. A coil spring 66a encompasses the rod connector 131a and tubular connector 132a and has its opposite ends fixedly secured to the rod connector 131a and the tubular connector 132a so as to normally bias the bell crank levers 63a, 65a into the position illustrated in Figure 10, with the wheels 35 fixed to the shafts 62a, 64a arranged in parallel relation.

A flexible wire 127a is connected at its forward end to the right hand rein in the same manner as the preferred form of the invention and has its rear end connected to the transverse portion of the bell crank lever 65a. A flexible wire 128a has its forward end connected to the left hand rein in the same manner as the wire 128 is connected in the preferred form of the invention and has its rear end connected to the transverse portion of the bell crank lever 63a.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Figure 10, the toy 20a is mounted and propelled in exactly the same manner as the toy 20, however, the wheels 35 underlying the frame members 56a, 57a at the rear of the toy 20a are alone steered, while the wheels 35 underlying the frame members 27a, 28a at the front of the toy 20a remain in forwardly extending position at all times.

In steering the toy 20a, the flexible wire 128a is moved forwardly by pulling on the left hand rein so that the transverse portion of the bell crank lever 63a is moved forwardly and the wheel 35 supported on the shaft 621: is turned to the right thus steering the toy 20a to the left. The spring 66a swings the bell crank lever 65a to maintain the wheel 35 on the bottom of the shaft 64a in parallel relation to the wheel 35 on the bottom of the shaft 62a. A coil spring 81a is fixed to the frame member 56a and has its opposite ends engaging the bell crank lever 63a to normally maintain the wheels 35 in a straight forward direction.

When it is desired to halt the toy 20a, both of the flexible wires 127a, 128a are pulled forwardly by pulling rearwardly on both of the reins so that the bell crank levers 63a, 65a are swung oppositely against the tension,

of the spring 66a with the rod 131a sliding in the tubular connector 132a. This movement of the bell crank levers 63a, 65a causes the wheels 35 on the shafts 62a, 64a to be swung outwardly in opposite directions causing a locking action with respect to the floor surface.

It should be understood that numerous structural modia d M their v ml laid wheels wmmm ina forward at lajglairfi 1 mant momin aidcambapdownwnrdly dow n-w wapclp saidcam levenhnnd mm fcm steeping: t he wheelsmounmdnn te s il ignt saidhorse bodyfqrflbiasing members to ad flpn'ght bd sflibmf claim} whereih guidemem fixed to said body was on oppdai "sides levee and saidcam bar for maintaihink andahidcambarinaverticalplane.

1.44am claimed in claim 1 wherein skid QM forward dupgnamed wheels are members for steen'ng movement about a vetticfl pm andmeam simultaneously by hm eon-f trolled means simultaneously steers said front M hf a directinfldpposite tothat of saidrearwheels. f

4. A device has claimed in claim 1 wherein the moumed on saidishifumay be ateeredin oppodne dine tions to retard the forward movement at said mmclummemeommm UNITED mmas PATENTS Sammie. m1 1,4911 Hague Apr. 9,1919: 

